Kai
What is Kai?
Kai is the sixth stage in the Hassetsu, the "Eight Stages of Shooting," in Kyudo, the Japanese martial art of archery. It represents the full draw and the moment of maximum tension before the release of the arrow. The term "Kai" can be translated as "full draw" or "completion."
Here are the key aspects of Kai:
- Full Draw Position: In Kai, the archer has completed the drawing of the bow. The bowstring is fully drawn back, typically to the face or cheek, and the arrow is aligned with the centerline of the body. The left arm (bow arm) is extended, and the right hand (string hand) is pulled back.
- Stability and Balance: The archer maintains a stable and balanced posture. The body should be relaxed but firm, with the spine straight and the shoulders level. The weight should be evenly distributed between both feet.
- Focus and Concentration: Kai is a moment of intense focus and concentration. The archer's mind should be calm and centered, fully present in the moment. This mental state is crucial for achieving a precise and controlled release.
- Breathing: Proper breathing is essential during Kai. The archer should take deep, calm breaths, which help in maintaining relaxation and focus. The breath should be steady and controlled.
- Expansion: During Kai, the archer should feel a sense of expansion, both physically and mentally. This involves a feeling of pushing outwards with the bow arm and pulling back with the string hand, creating a sense of dynamic tension and readiness.
Kai is a critical stage in Kyudo as it sets the foundation for the release of the arrow. Proper execution of Kai ensures that the archer is in the optimal position to release the arrow accurately and with control. Mastery of this stage is essential for achieving precision and consistency in Kyudo practice.
Related Article: Kyudo: The Zen Art of Japanese Archery
The minute you don a black belt, the minute you step in front of a class to teach, you are seen as an expert on violence. It doesn’t matter if you have absorbed a complete philosophical system with your martial art. It doesn’t matter if the art gave you, for the first time, the confidence to view the world as a pacifist. It doesn’t matter if you studied as a window to another age and culture. It doesn’t matter that you have found enlightenment in kata or learned to blend in harmony with the force of your attacker. It doesn’t matter because you are about to teach a martial art, an art dedicated to Mars, the God of War. A MARtial art. Even if somewhere over the years you have lost sight of this, your students have not.
Rory Miller